“Leadership isn’t about being the smartest in the room — it’s about creating an environment where others bring the gold.” “You cannot shrink your way to greatness. You cannot cut your way to success and profitability.” “Leadership is a team game. It’s not a pyramid with you at the top — it's an inverted pyramid where your job is to support and enable.” In this compelling episode of Slicing Through the Noise, Richard McCarthy — executive general manager and part-owner at Interflow — shares his transformative leadership journey from the corporate world of Shell to a purpose-driven role in infrastructure. With trademark humility and strategic clarity, Richard explores the mindset shifts that shaped his approach to leadership: from values-led decision-making and redefining achievement, to letting go of being “the smart guy.”” He dives into the tough calls, the art of growing people, maintaining cultural integrity through acquisitions, and how AFL (yes, footy!) offers surprising parallels to business leadership. Richard reminds us that true leadership isn’t about quarterly targets — it’s about relationships, reflection, and legacy. This episode is packed with wisdom for leaders ready to challenge themselves and lead with purpose.  Episode Breakdown 00:00 – 06:30 | Welcome & Introduction Jennifer opens with admiration for Richard’s leadership journey. They set the tone for a story of personal growth and transformation. 06:30 – 13:00 | Family Values & Foundations Richard reflects on how family-first values became the cornerstone of his leadership style — providing belonging, honesty, and realness. 13:00 – 20:30 | The Turning Point: “Smart Guy Can’t Lead” A pivotal piece of feedback forces Richard to confront the limitations of intellect-driven leadership and shift toward connection and trust. 20:30 – 26:00 | Enabling vs. Controlling How stepping back, letting others lead, and trusting the unknown has delivered greater team performance — and personal joy. 26:00 – 32:30 | From Shell to Interflow: Lessons Across Industries What oil, construction, consulting, and manufacturing all taught him about consistent leadership and values misalignment. 32:30 – 40:00 | Values vs. Shareholder Returns A candid conversation about what happens when profit becomes the silent, dominant value — and how to lead with integrity instead. 40:00 – 46:00 | Football & Business: The AFL Analogy How coaching, team development, and passion in sport mirrors leadership in business, and why celebration matters. 46:00 – 52:00 | Growing People, Growing Business The messy reality of growth: making hard resource decisions, avoiding leadership exhaustion, and developing “ready enough” talent. 52:00 – 56:30 | Strategic Thinking in a Fast-Paced World Why slowing down to ask better questions unlocks better outcomes — and the myth of speed in decision-making. 56:30 – 1:00:00 | Legacy, Integration & Final Reflections How Richard wants to be remembered: as a leader who built capable teams, strengthened a 90-year-old business, and came home present for dinner.Thank you for listening to 'Slicing Through The Noise' the podcast that uncovers real stories behind impactful leadership in Australia and around the world. Follow us: Apple Podcasts Spotify Linkedin Youtube Instagram

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